Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast

There is another round of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) leaks, and its nearly 200GB worth of data.

Welcome to Episode 77 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, and Albert Perkins.

Join us this week to talk the latest GTA leaks, the Wardogs controversy surrounding crunch in video game development, and Marathon's latest update being delayed until after GTA 6 releases. Plus there's the good and interesting news of the week!

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A major Steam leak saw dozens of games' achievement lists leaked online, along with plenty of big spoilers.

Welcome to Episode 76 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

Join us this week to talk about the Steam leak, Hideo Kojima leaving PlayStation for Xbox, the disappointing Nintendo Direct, Wardogs' impressive launch, and the recent Fairgame$ footage. Plus, there's always the good news of the week.

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That PlayStation State of Play was something, wasn't it? Was what was shown worth a full showcase, or could the event just have been an email?

Welcome to Episode 75 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, and Albert Perkins.

Join us this week to talk the State of Play, the Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) reveal, our thoughts on Gamescom 2026, and even Xbox's decision to add stricter limits on cloud gaming. There have also been some major stories this week that we need to discuss.

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The first major deep dive into Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is finally coming, and it's airing...on Netflix?

Welcome to Episode 73 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Grant Taylor-Hill and Albert Perkins.

Join us this week for a jam-packed episode talking GTA 6, whether reveals on Netflix are the future of games media, the Take-Two Earnings report and everything out of the call, and Electronic Arts (EA) officially becoming a private company after its $55 billion sale was finalized on Tuesday.

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Xbox went down again for over 15 hours, leaving players frustrated with the company once again. Plus, the latest Microsoft earnings report is out, and it continues to paint a mixed picture for Xbox as a whole.

It's Episode 72 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast with Mike Straw, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

Also in this episode:

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The PlayStation Network went down on Friday, leading to another discourse surrounding a digital-only future and always-online connectivity.

Plus, Marathon's PvE mode has boosted its player count, Sony has implemented strict social media guidelines for employees, and not only is Xbox bringing backwards compatibility to PC, but it's introducing a free ad-supported streaming offering.

It's episode 71 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

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Xbox has announced layoffs of 3,200 employees, with 1,600 of them already shown the door. What happens now, and where does Xbox go from here?

Sony has effectively killed Physical games, and Xbox doesn't appear to be far behind. What does this mean for the state of the games industry, and have we hit the "you'll own nothing, and like it" stage of the medium?

It's Episode 68 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

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With pre-orders open, we have brand new Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) details such as pricing and possible features. Also, gaming has gotten even more expensive with the Steam Machine costing over $1,000 and Xbox console prices going up yet again. When will things get better?

And Bungie just laid off around half of the studio, including most of the team behind Destiny and some on Marathon. What's next for the beleaguered studio, and is there any chance of a comeback?

Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) preorders are finally set to begin, but we still don't know how much the game will cost. We give our final predictions ahead of June 25.

Plus, a nightmare few weeks are coming for Xbox and its studios. Just how much trouble are they in?

It's Episode 66 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

Brought to you by the FREE Insider Gaming App: Out now for iOS and Android!

Ubisoft is shutting more studios, laying off staff, and games like Ghost Recon (Project OVR) are in trouble. But it doesn't end there; Xbox is also gearing up for massive layoffs after a bunch of what feels like cheap wins. There's also a new report that Microsoft could be looking to spin off Xbox.

So the question begs: what are they doing?

It's Episode 65 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

Other topics include: - Summer Game...

Call of Duty is back in a big way with Modern Warfare 4, and we have all of the details you need to know about. Plus, with news that Valve is raising the Steam Deck price by nearly $300, gaming has become more unaffordable than ever, and is quickly becoming a rich man's hobby.

It's episode 64 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, and Grant Taylor-Hill.

Other topics in this episode include:

A new leak suggests that Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) pre-orders are getting ready to start soon. But are they really?

Plus, PlayStation is telling you how many people are playing games, EA was "raided" by angry gamers, Subnautica 2 and Forza Horizon 6 are hits, and shooters are making desperate changes.

It's Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast Episode 62 with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

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Four years after being purchased by PlayStation, is it time to admit that the Bungie acquisition was a failure? Plus, an update on PlayStation 5 sales, the PS6 release, and more.

Also, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price increase and Xbox is dumping co-pilot.

It's episode 61 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

Topics this week include:

Xbox is seemingly pushing forward with a new era dedicated to its games, hardware, and services. And Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is officially here, and we break it all down for you.

Plus Fairgame$ (Fairgames) is struggling during playtests, but what does that mean for its success potential?

It's episode 60 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast. Join Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins this week as they talk through gaming's biggest stories of the week.

Topics this week...

Is Call of Duty going to leave Xbox Game Pass? And there are new details on Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.

It's Episode 59 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast. Join Mike Straw and Tom Henderson this week as they talk through gaming's biggest stories of the week.

Topics this week include:➤ Xbox Game Pass too expensive?➤ New Game Pass tiers in the works➤ Is COD really going to leave Game Pass?➤ Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced release date➤ The GTA leak made Take-Two Interactive even more money➤ PlayStation's FairGame$ becoming an extractio...

There have been major accusations made against Halo Studios from a former developer on the franchise. Plus, are we close to an Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake announcement?

It's Episode 58 Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

Other topics this week include:

➤ Marathon's development cost and is the game sustainable?

➤ A Disney Arc Raiders?

➤ Halo Campaign Evolved release rumors

➤ A PlayStation State of Play could be coming

➤ Gunzilla Games accused of...

There are new PlayStation 6 rumors, and we're here to talk about them. Plus, PlayStation has acquired a new studio just after shutting down others, and Eidos Montreal just can't catch a break.

Also, we answer your questions in a special AMA segment of the show.

It's Episode 57 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast.

Subscribe to the show today, and leave a rating with your thoughts on how we can improve.

From mass layoffs to old hardware getting more expensive, it feels like the games industry is starting to collapse.

It's Episode 56 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast. Join Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins as they talk about the latest news in gaming.

This week's topics include:• Mass layoffs at Epic Games• PlayStation 5 price increase and studio shutdowns• Ubisoft layoffs could impact it's biggest games• EA used AI Tools to create Battlefield 6• Nintendo Switch 2 production is being reduced and game price changes are coming• Major Switch 2 game rumors, including a few surprise...

Nvidia's DLSS 5 is causing quite the controversy with claims it's ruining games. Plus, even more layoffs, including at one of the most legendary studios of the last 30 years.

Also, Mike and Tom are back from GDC and are here to talk about their experiences in San Francisco, Starfield has a new update, and the PlayStation Network is going away...kind of.

It's Episode 55 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor- Hill, and Albert Perkins.

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There's a lot of uncertainty around the future of the video game industry, and one idea making the rounds is that we could start seeing more exclusives once again for PlayStation and, maybe, even Xbox.

Speaking of Xbox, Microsoft Gaming's new CEO has confirmed the next console, calling it the return of Xbox. Plus, Highguard is officially shutting down after just 45 days, and the Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake has been confirmed by Ubisoft.

It's Episode 54 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

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Is PlayStation really about to ditch PC for single-player games? What about the fallout from the BluePoint closure?

Plus, there's more fallout from the Xbox leadership changes, Marathon's server slam is underway, and the games media landscape is a mess...what does our future hold?

It's episode 53 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins!

Brought to you by the FREE Insider Gaming App: Out now for iOS and Android!

BREAKING NEWS: Phil Spencer has retired as head of Xbox at Microsoft. What happened and what does this mean for Xbox?

PlayStation has shut down another studio it acquired in recent years, and there are reports that they could delay the launch of the PlayStation 6. Also, Ubisoft confirmed a number of games are in development while laying off more people.

In other news, Todd Howard had some comments on Fallout, Starfield, Elder Scrolls, and more in a recent interview and Pokémon Presents is set for February 27.

It's Episode 52 of Insider Gaming Weekly w...

Ubisoft continues to be in turmoil, and a recent Town Hall at the company did nothing to calm the concerns of employees. Plus, a bombshell exclusive on MindsEye and its developer Build a Rocket Boy.

From employee tracking to wanting to put those who they claimed wronged them in a Hitman-like "Spy Mission", this is one story you need to see to believe.

It's Episode 50 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill and Albert Perkins.

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Xbox's revenue has fallen, but how much trouble is Xbox really in? Also, a Nintendo Direct is coming, but what should you expect?

Plus, Ubisoft employees are set to strike, Highguard is out and it's...ok?, and GTA 6 might not have a physical release.

It's Episode 49 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Albert Perkins, and Grant Taylor-Hill!

Ubisoft is going through major changes that could lead to the end of the company as we know it, and people are worried about what the future holds for their games and employees. Also, Xbox Directed everyone again with looks at Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and more!

It's the One Year Anniversary of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

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With Meta shutting down a number of game studios this week, there's a concern that we are witnessing the death of virtual reality (VR) gaming, but are we?

Plus, Battlefield 6's new season has been delayed and paramount is continuing its fight against Netflix for Warner Bros.

It's Episode 47 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

Brought to you by the Insider Gaming App.Download it for FREE on iOS and Android:

Will it, or won't it? Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA) might not be content complete just yet, and it has people worried that we are heading towards another delay for the anticipated game.

Plus, Ubisoft has shut down a studio that just so happened to unionize, Xbox Developer Direct games have been confirmed, and there's a lot of potential Fallout game news on the horizon.

It's Episode 46 of Insider Gaming Weekly with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins.

It's a new year, and it's time to look at what you can expect from 2026 in the world of video games. From the games we expect to see to news that might not be the best, join Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, and Grant Taylor-Hill as they give their predictions and thoughts on gaming in 2026.

Also, in this episode we'll talk about what's to come from Insider Gaming as a whole this year as well as touch on the latest gaming news you may have missed during the holiday break.

As cost of living continues to rise and component prices get more expensive, people just aren't buying Video Game Consoles right now. Plus, with the skyrocketing prices of RAM and Storage, what does this mean for the next generation of consoles from Sony (PlayStation) and Microsoft (Xbox)?

Also in this episode, Call of Duty has a lot of rumors floating around to the point where Activision has publicly tried to debunk some of them and Larian is facing the AI backlash.

All this and more on episode 44 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video...

The Game Awards have happened, and we have our thoughts about what happened and what didn't happen. From the big reveals to the games that weren't there, what did Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins think of everything?

Plus, there's another new Alien game in development and Xbox has announced its next Developer Direct.

It's episode 43 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast, presented by the Insider Gaming App. Download it today for free on iOS and Android.

Netflix is buying Warner Bros, but what does it mean for the future of Warner Bros. Games? Plus, Eidos Montreal is going through it right now with layoffs and project cancellations, and we have more exclusive details on what they've been working on.

Plus, is Activision reversing course on Skill Based Matchmaking (SBMM) in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7? And we have a couple more Insider Gaming exclusive tidbits for you this week.

It's episode 42 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast, presented by the Insider Gaming App. Download it today for free on...

AI is a controversial topic throughout the world, but especially when it comes to video games. It's been used in a number of games and continues to grow in its adoption, but what is it's place in gaming moving forward? Plus, we catch you up on some of the gaming news you may have missed.

It's Episode 41 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast! Join Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins as they talk the latest in gaming and give their opinions on anything and everything.

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The Xbox 360 turns 20 years old, and we have a lot of memories of Microsoft's most successful console. Plus, The Game Awards nominees for 2025 are out and we have some questions. And, lastly, there's some exclusive Ubisoft news on a couple of games fans are excited about.

It's Episode 40 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast! Join Mike Straw, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins as they talk about the latest in gaming news that you need to know.

Brought to you by the Insider Gaming App. Out now on Android and coming soon to iOS.<...

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's launch is here, and it's been a mixed bag. Plus, Steam is launching three new pieces of hardware include a Steam Console and there are possibly more issues for Ubisoft.Oh, and there's a big thing to celebrate: The release of the Insider Gaming App, out now for Android and coming next week to iOS.

It's Episode 39 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast! Join Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins as they talk about the latest in gaming that you need to know.

Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) has been delayed yet again in a move many seemingly expected. But what was the reason? Also, Square Enix is laying off staff and wants QA to be handled by AI while Arc Raiders is one of the most acclaimed games of the year, but why?

It's Episode 38 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast! Join Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins as they talk about the latest in gaming that you need to know.

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Battlefield’s new Battle Royale mode, REDSEC, is finally here, and we have thoughts. We’re breaking down our first impressions, what works, what doesn’t, and whether it’s the future of the franchise.

Meanwhile, there are more rumors surrounding the future of Xbox in what feels like it could be a last-ditch effort to save the brand. And Amazon Games just cut staff, and multiple projects have been hit — including New World and another major upcoming title. Oh, and there's a major Insider Gaming announcement as well!

It’s Episode 37 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Vi...

Microsoft’s recent decisions might be doing more harm than good for Xbox, Battlefield 6 is in the middle of a major overhaul, and Ubisoft is once again restructuring and laying off staff. In Episode 36 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast, hosts Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Grant Taylor-Hill, and Albert Perkins break down what all of this means for the gaming industry’s biggest players.

From behind-the-scenes insights to bold predictions, the crew discusses where things might be headed next — and, as always, answers your questions live.

🎧 Follow Insider Gaming Weekly for new episodes every wee...

Battlefield is back in a big way with Battlefield 6's success, major changes are happening at Ubisoft, and there's more resistance to EA's sale. This is Episode 35 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast with Mike Straw, Tom Henderson, Albert Perkins, and Grant Taylor-Hill.Other Topics on this week's show include: Halo voice actor teasing "big news" and more!Don't forget to like and subscribe! And join the Insider Gaming Discord: https://discord.gg/Bhv3AMa5a9

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is officially ending skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) at launch and is reintroducing persistent multiplayer lobbies. Also, an Assassin's Creed game was canceled for the worst reasons, a new Lord of the Rings Game, and more on Xbox's latest drama. It's Episode 34 of Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast